Today's News

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Ivory Coast's elected president used his troops and French tanks and air power to oust strongman Laurent Gbagbo, ending their four-month standoff on Monday by pulling him from his burning residence.

Images of Gbagbo being led into a room in a white undershirt were broadcast on television as proof of his capture even as he refused to sign a statement formally ceding power after losing November's election.

Residents of the commercial capital of Abidjan refrained from celebrating in public, still fearful of the hundreds of armed fighters that continued to prowl the streets, refusing to believe their leader had been arrested. Sporadic gunfire echoed across the city Monday night.

SENDAI, Japan (AP) — A strong new earthquake rattled Japan's northeast Monday as the government urged more people living near a tsunami-crippled nuclear plant to leave, citing concerns about long-term health risks from radiation.

The magnitude 7.0 aftershock came just hours after people bowed their heads and wept in somber ceremonies to mark a month since a massive earthquake and tsunami that killed up to 25,000 people and set off a crisis of radiation leaks at the nuclear plant by knocking out its cooling systems.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Charl Schwartzel gave this Masters a finish it deserved.

On an amazing Sunday at Augusta National, where the roars came from everywhere and for everyone and didn't stop until it was over, Schwartzel emerged from the madness by becoming the first Masters champion to close with four straight birdies.

His final putt from 20 feet curled into the side of the cup for a 6-under 66, the best closing round at the Masters in 22 years. It gave the 26-year-old South African a two-shot victory over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day.

"Just an exciting day," Schwartzel said. "So many roars, and that atmosphere out there was just incredible. A phenomenal day."

The state’s roughly 240 “active registered” mines, 83 percent of them producing aggregate and stone, employed 5,156 people in 2009, paid them $287 million, and produced minerals worth about $1.8 billion – good for a ranking of 20th nationally without counting oil and gas.
The big value numbers come from coal ($736 million in 2009), potash ($491 million), and copper ($290 million and hiring again).
Except for potash and salt mines around Carlsbad, the mines are located in the southwest quadrant and in a broad and mostly rural northern arc that starts at Raton, swings south to include Belen and Albuquerque, edges north and west to Grants and then goes to the Arizona.

The Preparticipation Physical Exam, or PPE, commonly known as a sports physical is performed over six million times in the U.S. annually and may be the only contact an adolescent or teen ever has with a physician.
In fact, adolescents represent the most underserved population in healthcare. Traditionally, parents have viewed the PPE as a yearly, comprehensive medical evaluation, whereas physicians have held that it is more of a cursory exam in which possible limitations to sports participation may be identified.

The Los Alamos Hilltopper boys and girls track and field teams will take several athletes to the Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions Monday.
The Sepulveda Invitational is the most prestigious meet of the regular track and field season. Individuals taking part in the invitation-only meet have posted the top marks in the state, irrespective of their teams’ classifications.
The meet is hosted by Albuquerque Academy.
Los Alamos’ Chase Ealey will compete in three different events at the meet Monday, while Lindsay Benage and Laura Wendelberger were invited to compete in two events.
In all, 10 Hilltoppers will travel to Monday’s meet to compete in 14 events.

The Los Alamos Hilltopper softball team blasted the Capital Jaguars in a pair of District 2-4A games Saturday at Overlook Park.
Los Alamos needed just 9-1/2 innings to close out the two games against the Jaguars. Los Alamos scored eight runs in the third inning as it cruised to a 15-2 win in the opener, then came back from an early 3-0 deficit to breeze to a 15-5 win in five innings.
The victories moved the Hilltoppers to 3-0 in the district standings. The Hilltoppers are looking to repeat in 2-4A, but will have a huge test Friday when they host the Bernalillo Spartans.
Capital (1-14 overall, 0-2 in 2-4A) was held to just two hits in the opener.

With about a month left in the season, the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls track and field team already has its sights set on the state Class 4A meet.
And with a good shot at claiming its third straight state title, the expectations are high.
Los Alamos had its first chance of the 2011 season to display its talents for the home crowd to see Friday afternoon. Los Alamos hosted four other teams at the Los Alamos Classic at Sullivan Field.
At that meet, the Hilltoppers held off a big charge from the Aztec Tigers. The Tigers, a Class 4A foe, picked up for wins on the day.

There are still plenty of things to work out for the Los Alamos Hilltopper boys track and field team.
However, the Hilltoppers have been able to get over some big bumps during this 2011 season, as evidenced by their performance Friday afternoon.
The Hilltoppers overcame an early disqualification in the 400 meter relay Friday and came back against a solid Aztec Tiger team to win the Los Alamos Classic. The Hilltoppers picked up 124 team points, topping the runner-up Tigers’ total of 100. Hope Christian finished in third with 67 points.
Los Alamos had strong performances at the end of the meet to earn the come-from-behind victory.